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Audi unveils new R18 e-tron quattro

31 Mar 2014|3,851 views

Audi has begun the 2014 World Endurance Championship on a high with the new R18 e-tron quattro race car that has been thoroughly engineered for efficiency.

Audi factory driver and nine-time Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen drove the diesel hybrid race car from Saint-Julien du Mans Catherdral in the city centre to the legendary race track

Besides the unique debut, Audi also surprised audience with the new livery of the R18, now more striking than before. While the choice of colours - red, silver, white, and black - is symbolic, the entire livery has been reworked, and is largely different from the black and red scheme that was used when the car made its world debut in December.

Besides aesthetics, the R18 also marks the beginning of a fundamentally new technological era. The V6 TDI unit, for instance, has been increased from 3.7 to 4.0-litres in order to further optimise the engine's efficiency.

After various testing, Audi has decided to compete in the class of up to two megajoules of recuperation energy at Le Mans. The design of the drivetrain follows a concept where the energy exclusively flows through a motor generator unit (MGU) at the front axle and is stored in a flywheel energy storage system.

The R18 e-tron quattro will participate in the official test of the FIA WEC in France, following by the first race at the Silverstone circuit in U.K.

Audi presented its new World Endurance Championship (WEC) 2014 contender - the R18 e-tron quattro - in a public drive in the city of Le Mans. The unusual drive brought back memories of a Le Mans era where drivers arrive in their own race cars.

Besides the unique debut, Audi also surprised audience with the new livery of the R18, now more striking than before. While the choice of colours - red, silver, white, and black - is symbolic, the entire livery has been reworked, and is largely different from the black and red scheme that was used when the car made its world debut in December.

Besides aesthetics, the R18 also marks the beginning of a fundamentally new technological era. The V6 TDI unit, for instance, has been increased from 3.7 to 4.0-litres in order to further optimise the engine's efficiency.

After various testing, Audi has decided to compete in the class of up to two megajoules of recuperation energy at Le Mans. The design of the drivetrain follows a concept where the energy exclusively flows through a motor generator unit (MGU) at the front axle and is stored in a flywheel energy storage system.

The R18 e-tron quattro will participate in the official test of the FIA WEC in France, following by the first race at the Silverstone circuit in U.K.